KFOR: After the presence of criminal groups within protesters, we have increased presence in Jarina

After today's events in Jarinje, KFOR has increased military presence in the north.

This day, after coordinating with all sides, KFOR has increased its presence in Jarinje for security reasons. This increase comes from the possible presence of organised criminal groups within protesters”, the report said.

It is always important that all who participate in a protest express their opinions peacefully, avoiding nonproportional violence, attitudes and aggressive behavior that can be misunderstood and perceived as unnecessary provocation or violence”, the statement says.

KFOR says it is fully focused on the daily implementation of its mandate based on UN Security Council Resolution 1244 to provide a safe environment to ensure and freedom of movement, in the best interests of all communities living in Kosovo.

Otherwise, some protesters have gathered on Sunday near the border crossing between Kosovo and Serbia, Jarinje, on the side of Serbian territory ʹ as a sign of support to local Serbs who have set up barricades in northern Kosovo.

Protesters have been heard screaming, “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia”.

Serbian police have created a cordon near the border.

The call for protest has been made by rightist groups, such as the “National Patrol”, and has been called for organisation to join other supporters from Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina's Republika Srpska.

Among them is Damjan Knezevic, head of Serbia's informal rightist group “National Pattrula”.

The “National Patrol is recognised for its actions against immigrants, for cloning Serbian war criminals and supporting Russia in the war that is waged in Ukraine.

The organisation is linked to the far-right group “Rusov” and the Russian paramilitary group “Vagner”, which it recently visited in Russia.